Netanyahu's Efforts to Sway General Winter Fail as Rabbis Decline Intervention
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to convince retired Major General Ofer Winter to withdraw his party from the upcoming Knesset elections have failed, as key rabbis refused to intervene. Netanyahu's appeals to Rabbi Bneiahu Shmueli and Rabbi David Abuchatzeira were rejected, with Abuchatzeira reportedly supporting Winter's continued run. These failures come amid accusations of a secret pact between Winter and Avigdor Lieberman to undermine Netanyahu's government prospects. The election day approaches with high tension regarding vote splitting among right-wing parties.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu's attempts to persuade General Winter to withdraw his party have failed.
- Rabbis Bneiahu Shmueli and David Abuchatzeira refused to pressure Ofer Winter to end his candidacy.
- Rabbi Abuchatzeira reportedly expressed support for Winter's continued participation in the election.
- Netanyahu's efforts are aimed at preventing vote splitting within the right-wing bloc.
- Winter has rejected previous offers from the Likud and Bezalel Smotrich.
- Haredi activists protested outside the Attorney General's home against wasted votes.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to persuade retired Major General Ofer Winter to withdraw his candidacy for the upcoming Knesset elections have been unsuccessful, with prominent rabbis refusing to intervene. Netanyahu personally approached Rabbi Bneiahu Shmueli, Winter's teacher, expressing concerns that an independent run by Winter's 'Am Israel' party could siphon crucial votes from the right-wing bloc, potentially hindering the formation of a right-wing government and paving the way for a left-wing one. However, Rabbi Shmueli reportedly rejected these entreaties, refusing to meddle in Winter's political decisions.
Further efforts to influence Winter were directed towards Rabbi David Abuchatzeira, a respected leader in northern Israel. According to reports, Rabbi Abuchatzeira also declined to act against Winter, instead expressing explicit support for his continued candidacy, calling him "part of the hope wave in the right-wing camp" and stating he "can and even should remain in the race." This stance is seen as a significant blow to the Likud party's efforts to mitigate potential vote splitting.
Netanyahu's pressure campaign comes amid accusations that Winter and Avigdor Lieberman are secretly collaborating to prevent a right-wing government led by Netanyahu, aiming instead for a government headed by Lieberman with Winter as Defense Minister. These efforts to convince Winter to withdraw or join another list have repeatedly failed; Netanyahu himself stated that Winter rejected offers of a third spot on the Likud list with a ministerial role, as well as an offer from Bezalel Smotrich.
In parallel, a protest was held outside the home of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara in Tel Aviv by Haredi activists from the Otzma Yehudit party. They presented a display warning against wasted votes within the Haredi sector, specifically targeting parties unlikely to pass the electoral threshold. Election day is set to begin tomorrow, with significant tension remaining in the right-wing camp over the potential impact of votes cast for smaller parties on the final government formation outcome.
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